Hope for Honduran Children Think Tank

Hope for Honduran Children (H4HC) is committed to providing learning opportunities for 4,000,000 Honduran people living in isolated areas with little or no education.   

THINK TANK was designed to support teachers and provide education to schoolchildren/adults with no access to cellular networks or internet. It enables hybrid learning at a fraction of the cost of laptops, conventional  tablets, and cell phones and is easily scalable. 

Schoolchildren receive personal offline Learn Kernel tablets containing with teacher approved lessons. Adult education covers healthcare, skill training, entrepreneurship, addiction, gender based violence, etc.  With lifelong learning available and the training of employable skills, THINK TANK provides transformative opportunities for a healthier, more prosperous future. 

Education is critical in building human capital and endowing a country’s workforce with the tools to compete in a globalized economy. If scaled globally, over 463,000,000 people would have improved access to engaging learning experiences to help better their futures.  

UNICEF reports 463 million schoolchildren worldwide cannot be reached by broadcast or Internet-based remote learning and 3 out of 4 come from impoverished rural households. Pre-Covid, due to poverty and isolation, over 4,000,000 Hondurans received little or no education. Due to Covid lockdowns, this has escalated dramatically. H4HC's priority is to solve the lack of educational access for underserved populations.

The UN reports the Honduran educational system as the worst in Central America with a serious lack of schools, books, and qualified teachers trained to help their students achieve.  THINK TANK works with teachers to help them train the next generation. Pre-Covid, only 51% of rural children completed 6th grade and further education was rarely available. Since Covid, with no internet access, the situation has worsened dramatically and vulnerable children are at risk of exploitation, drug cartels, gangs and traffickers. 

The need for access to low cost, hybrid learning in these isolated communities is critical.  

THINK TANK will help reduce vulnerabilities, eliminate illiteracy, provide skill training for adults, improve employment, and ultimately help Honduras compete in the globalized economy. The THINK TANK solution is very low-cost, flexible, and easily scalable to remove barriers for accessing learning on a worldwide scale.

THINK TANK is a low cost, easily scalable solution providing education to underserved populations with no access to cellular service or internet. Handheld Learn Kernel™ devices, provide essential education/information to vulnerable schoolchildren and adults in remote areas. Content is loaded on the Learn Kernel via USB port enabling offline distribution and use of content. It  provides quality education at a fraction of the price of costly computers, smartphones or conventional tablets . 

H4HC researches relevant content with village teachers and leaders. Next the devices are loaded with educational videos in Spanish for both schoolchildren and adults. Each participant receives their personal device and content is updated as needed. The Learn Kernel also allows for the dissemination of lifechanging information on healthcare, entrepreneurship, agricultural technology, the training of skills. 

While there is a critical deficit in educational resources, H4HC is pioneering a paradigm shift that will ultimately transform education, the training of skills, improve employability and have a positive and transformative impact on the lives of the underserved.

THINK TANK, with its disruptively low cost, is an innovative and transformative solution for rural populations without network connectivity and has the potential of impacting the worldwide population of over 463,000,000 underserved.

Over 4 million people live in remote Honduran mountain villages. Most have no jobs, no internet, no cell reception, no paved roads, no running water or electricity and no hope for a better future.  Illiteracy plagues 2 in 10 adults. There is little or no access to health care and prior Covid, only a pitiful substandard education was available through sixth grade. 

The statistics are shocking: 

• Two in ten rural Hondurans are illiterate 
•  50% of all Honduran women are illiterate
• Performance in primary and secondary school is remedial: less than one in ten achieve a milestone goal in reading, math or sciences
• 63% of the Honduran labor force has only a primary education and are severely underpaid 
• 81% of the Honduran labor force is concentrated in the agriculture or manufacturing sectors.
• 27% of Honduran youth neither study nor work, and 39% only work but do not study. 

For over 17 years Hope for Honduran Children (H4HC) has worked closely with the families, teachers and children in six villages. We have established an active sewing center, large computer lab, and two student residential homes in a suburb of Tegucigalpa. While partnering with the villages, we have learned to recognize true potential. Subsequently, we admit promising students to our residential program through which we provide safe shelter, 100% support and full scholarships. Our residents arrive with the academic tank on empty, knowing how to read, draw and sing the National Anthem but basic math, punctuation, sentence structure are completely unknown. This year a 7th grader arrived having never held a book in his hands. A 10th grader arrived not knowing the basics of division. However, our students are extremely focused on the opportunity afforded them and are committed to building a better future for themselves and their families. Currently, 2 are in 7th grade, 7 in high school, 16 are attending the university with 2 studying for their Masters.

Prior to the Covid pandemic we escorted teams and visited each village 4-5 times annually. We would meet with the community, listen attentively and do careful need assessments. We would bring health and educational supplies, deliver needed food and clothing, teach lessons and monitor progress. At this very moment we are in Honduras for the first time in two years with a team of 12 volunteers. 

At the onset of Covid we began a pilot program for 100 students and 6 teachers in a school of 200 students.  Frequent zoom meetings were held  with the administration and teachers to introduce the concept, discuss functionality and ask for their input.  Each teacher then sent a list of the content to be included. Next, we carefully researched and downloaded  academic videos for each grade level (4th grade through 9th) in math, Spanish language, science and English. In 2022 we intend on adding at least 3 additional communities, adult learning and primary grades 1-3. The U.S. and Honduran Directors of H4HC are in weekly contact with the teachers and administration of the San Juan del Rancho School. The teachers and students are extremely excited to be part of this program. Just yesterday we met with the primary teachers in three additional remote villages – Provedencia, Suyatillo and Naguara.  The teachers, children and adults were captivated by the program and implored  to be included as soon as possible.   

“In addition to being a core element in human capital, the educational landscape forms a basis for the composition of the country’s labor force. For one, as the young population enters the funnel of education, they enter the labor force with weak training, both in level and quality of education attained. In turn, adults participate in the labor market with limited knowledge and skills. Therefore, the labor force lacks the skills needed to access high-quality jobs and reduce inequality. Moreover, with few science and technology degrees, the labor force is unfit to compete in the global economy and promote innovation.”  Per publication of Manuel Orozco and Marcela Valdivia - www.thedialogue.org

Hope for Honduran Children has witnessed how lives are dramatically changed by education. Our mission is to protect, inspire, nurture, educate and provide opportunities for forgotten and disadvantaged youth.  We have many student success stories including a physician, nurse, Xray technician, teachers, a production manager, and accountants.  However, we are faced with the formidable challenge of doing a lot more. The THINK TANK solution supports teachers, schoolchildren and underserved adults providing them a lifelong learning experience with life changing impact potential. This solution will help reduce vulnerabilities, eliminate illiteracy, provide skill training for adults, improve employment, and ultimately help Honduras compete in the globalized economy.

The THINK TANK solution was specifically designed, created and implemented to provide access to education to populations living in low connectivity areas.  Think Tank provides remote learning to these communities via the distribution of personal learning tablets that are not dependent on the internet or cell reception. It is a low-cost, easy to use, flexible system that provides lessons targeted to multiple educational disciplines for both schoolchildren and adults. Working with Honduran teachers, the goal of Think Tank is to enhance curiosity, provide knowledge, encourage lifelong learning and equip the underserved with the skills needed to engage in meaningful employment.

The pilot phase of our remote learning program was hosted at San Juan del Rancho school. The functionality, usability, and stability of the Learn Kernel device was tested for a year by 100 students in grades 4 through 9. They are thrilled to have this opportunity and predict a much higher level of accomplishment, particularly in areas that were very substandard prior to the pandemic, Spanish, science and math. Now, the remaining 3 grades of this school, the adult community and schools and communities in 3 additional villages are anxious to take part in the program. THINK TANK is a low-cost solution to an enormous problem. Its  success is exceeding all expectations and strongly suggests it’s time to expand to engage another group of 350 students and adults.

In Honduras, the same story repeats itself year after year with no improvement for 4,000,000 people living in poverty and isolation. Pre-Covid they had few public services, rampant unemployment and the worst educational system in Central America. Conditions post Covid are unimaginable.  

Due to the disruptively low cost of the Learn Kernel device, we can drastically increase the availability of education to underserved populations. Unlike other devices that are prohibitively expensive or require network access, THINK TANK provides education to 4,000,000 Hondurans living in isolated communities.  The training of skills will improve employability directly and allow them to compete in the global community via access to top tier education. It provides low-cost personal Learn Kernel tablets on which we provide content that is engaging and motivates learning.

THINK TANK provides education to schoolchildren and critical information to the adult community.We are pioneering a paradigm shift that will ultimately transform education, the training of skills, improve employability and have a positive and transformative impact on the lives of the underserved. 

We anticipate the THINK TANK becoming catalytic and having positive impact on the forgotten and underserved throughout the developing world. We plan  to expand and impact school children worldwide and to provide adult communities with important lessons including medical information, entrepreneurship, agricultural technology, the training of skills and ways in which to improve the quality of their lives. 

Technology is the key component that makes THINK TAKE an invaluable and innovative solution to a debilitating worldwide problem.

The technological component of the THINK TANK solution employs the use of Learn Kernel (LK), a new, simple and affordable application of video and audio technology developed for distribution in rural areas where vulnerable populations have a serious lack of education and no access to the internet. Making access to information available in remote areas the Learn Kernel tablets solve the issues caused by: lack of internet, the educational divide, apathy and affordability of education.

Hope for Honduran Children (H4HC)  provides academic videos which are loaded in an encrypted video format on to the LK tablets via USB. The technology is also chargeable by USB. Once the videos are loaded, the LK  tablet will play them automatically. The tablets have chapter control to navigate the lessons provided by

The LK Navigator features 3 buttons: Chapter Selection, Rewind and Pause/Play. The LK was designed so as to be pocket portable for ease of use.

The THINK TANK technological component, Learn Kernel,  uses currently available technology that has been proven to work. Learn Kernel has  been implemented pilot programs in a variety of countries where they adapt the Learn Kernel to the needs of the specific region. Learn Kernel works closely with its partners in analyzing the best design and implementation for success. It is currently being used in Honduras, Kenya, the Philippines and India. One such pilot program ran in East Africa in collaboration with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) : 

Dr. Saliou Niassy for ICIPE

Scientific Research Institute

 “We have been working together with Learn Kernel on this exciting technology for the Push-Pull and are in the process to expand it and incubate some startups here at ICIPE.  The Push-Pull technology has been implemented with farmers to help train into new techniques to combat the Fall Army Worm crises for the maze crop in East Africa”

Data and Device Security:

Security is always a main priority. Learn Kernels are secured with a patented hard-case that once connected is unable to be easily taken apart; keeping the device safe from tampering. Learn Kernel also uses secure software encryption to keep unauthorized users from uploading/downloading and replacing current content with new content. It also offers a SecureKEY to  be inserted into the hard case in order to load videos.

Personal Security

Whenever one provides resources to a vulnerable population there is a risk of theft. In order to mitigate this, teachers are in charge of device management and distribution.

Financial Risk: Learn Kernel is currently financed by the Learn Kernel team and its parent company.  Looking toward the future, Learn Kernel intends to raise capital and work on securing partnerships for growth and stability. This constant addition into our business plan ensures the continuation of this project over the long term.      

Operational Risk: Learn Kernel controls its supply chain (externally and internally) keeping expense and unknown factors to a minimum. With Learn Kernels core teachings and internal systems it also mitigates risks of unknown changes, accidents, and events.  Learn Kernel is always working to improve its operations and stay ahead of all potential obstacles.

THINK TANK is an immensely replicable and scalable solution for impoverished communities. However, we believe to achieve scale it is important to begin slowly and carefully so as to build trust and prove the ease and success of the program. 

2021          The pilot program is impacting 100 students plus their families and 6 teachers

2022          an additional 350 schoolchildren, teachers and adults

2023          an additional 500 schoolchildren, teachers and adults 

2024          an additional 750 schoolchildren, teachers and adults

2025          an additional 1000 schoolchildren, teachers and adults after which we predict enormous scale and will require financial assistance

We achieved our 2021 goal of providing the education to 100 impoverished children and families. Students were provided a learning tablet on which we downloaded optimized classes. Hoping to engage their curiosity and motivate continued learning, we made learning easy, exciting and fun. While expanding the scope of classes, expansion will be gradual, adding another 350 students In 2022  and 2700 over five years.

THINK TANK provides a vastly improved learning experience. Children are able to review lessons repeatedly and are encouraged to share the material with their families. At long last, students will be able to continue their education beyond sixth grade.

After 17+ years of working in Honduras, we have significant relationships with dozens of mountain villages who will eventually benefit from the THINK TANK solution. We will solicit funding support through our donor base, fundraisers, and various grants. Teams of volunteers, teachers and staff will help deliver personal tablets to the schools and communities, provide simple instructions and assist in collecting data to improve the project.

Our long term goal is to provide a transformational impact for the underserved villages of Honduras, Central America and beyond. This low cost program is easily scalable. Without education progress cannot occur. The impact of poor education is staggering. Consequently, the impact of our work will be extremely powerful. Ultimately the illiteracy rate will decline, with new found knowledge and skills, the rural population will become employable, and eventually the underserved will be poised to compete in a globalized economy.

Covid continues in Honduras and all schools remain closed. Without cell or internet reception, remote learning is impossible for the rural population. H4HC measures the progress and achievements of THINK TANK via frequent conversations and updates from  teachers.  Before beginning the pilot, students were tested to determine the academic baseline. Teachers later met with their students and distributed the tablets with clear and careful instructions.  Assignments and tests are used to monitor each students progress and expectations must be met. We also monitor the time spent on the Learn Kernel tablet, how many family members use it, and the ease, problems and functionality of the LK device. The opinions of teachers and students are critical. They are challenged to succeed and understand that success will be rewarded.

Learn Kernel was created so that all people, women, men and children could receive access to information, improve their knowledge and ultimately develop a more sustainable society. Learn Kernel collects data metrics regarding tablet functionality, client metrics, regional function and demographics. We use the metrics listed as indicators on the UN sustainable development goals for 2030. 

Last week we held an outdoor meeting in a field with teachers and many of the students. We wanted their feedback and to see firsthand if their enthusiasm had waned.  Their excitement and enthusiasm was palpable and their only criticism is they needed more tablets for more grades and for the adult community.

1 full time at Hope for Honduran Children (H4HC) in USA

2 part-time at H4HC USA   

1 full time staff in Honduras   

8 fulltime staff at Potter Technology 

 7  Teachers at San Juan del Rancho 

After working for over 17 years in rural Honduras, we clearly understand the culture and needs of the people. Due to shocking poverty, lack of accountability, and absence of infrastructure the needs often seem insurmountable.

Our mission is  to transform the lives of the underserved rural population. In  addition to working with our student residential homes, in 2015 we created the Feed A Village program through which we nurture the mind, body and spirit of the people in six remote villages.  We use our knowledge, energy and resources to instill the desire and provide the necessary tools for the underserved to become self-sufficient, caring, and responsible adults. We visit the communities at least 5 times annually and have thereby become one cohesive and passionate family in each. Our residential program has 24 students who were “rescued” from these or similar villages. We understand the needs of the villages - our 24 resident students lived it.  Today we rescued a young girl and providing her a new life after losing her entire family to illness and violence. WE spend time listening to the village leaders, sharing ideas, assessing needs, and delivering food, supplies, and medical care. Volunteers teach classes, share their skills, and spend time mentoring the people. Most speak Spanish. Hope for Honduran Children has a successful track record of developing and sustaining innovative programs focused on education. We are confident that we are very well-positioned to deliver our THINK TANK solution to the students and adults in each community.

We regard ourselves as ambassadors of diversity, equality and inclusion. We strive to create a caring environment in which everyone feels valued and respected, both those on our volunteer teams and all the people we work with and serve throughout Honduras. We are role models and mentors and many of our staff and assistants are from underserved areas. We teach classes and mentor students on issues of diversity, equality, inclusion and gender based violence. We work with residents of the local center for the blind. The Hope for Honduran Children Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, supporter of impoverished Honduran families, and recruiter of service volunteers. We make hiring, support and humanitarian decisions without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We practice this policy in our decisions related to hiring, internships, participation and volunteering for any and all of our programs. We serve males, females and those who identify differently. We serve members of the LGBTQ community. We serve families of indigenous tribes such as the Lenca, Maya, and Chorti. We serve all religions as well as non-believers. We have zero tolerance for discriminatory behavior of any kind or in any situation. This policy applies to the work we do in Honduras and to the groups of volunteers who work and travel with H4HC.

The goal of THINK TANK is to make quality learning experiences available for underserved children and adults in rural Honduras. Our solution is transformative and could easily be scaled worldwide. The Hope for Honduran Children Foundation would benefit greatly from a network of experts helping us enhance the impact and scale of THINK TANK. The expertise that our foundation delivers is our 17 year history working and building relationships with the underserved population of Honduras. The developers of the learning tablets bring their technological expertise to the table. We need MIT to bring further expertise to the table. We need your assistance with the “bigger picture” and how to achieve it. We are a small foundation in need of your experts to partner with us as our "think tank", opening us to broader and more innovative ideas about development, strategy, and resources. We need  media exposure to help strengthen scale. We need to build partnerships with corporations, individuals, NGOs and other organizations who can help us find resources and investors. Our foundation, THINK TANK, and the people of Honduras would benefit enormously from being supported by MIT.

We need the help of MIT to strengthen THINK TANK and make the impact of our foundation and THINK TANK  even more transformative. We would benefit greatly from a network of expert partners helping us provide life-changing impact with scale. We need mentoring and coaching on just how to achieve our goals.  Our "How To" list covers many areas including:

• How to develop a network of experts
• How to market ourselves and secure media exposure
• How to develop partnerships with corporations and other organizations 
• How to develop a strategy for product distribution
• Suggestions on developing enhanced learning content
• How to find investors and secure additional funding
• How to mitigate the issues involved with scaling.  

We recognize the incredible opportunity MIT is offering. We are very anxious to have the THINK TANK solution selected and become a team member.  We need your expertise in so many ways and would welcome, at your discretion,  any assistance and partners you deem appropriate. Again, our expertise lies in serving the poor of Honduras, yours is much different and broader.  We absolutely need your help.